Real Ale Devils Backbone
Named for the scenic ridge that runs between Blanco and Wimberly, Devil's Backbone is a Belgian-style trippel. Brewed in the traditional manner, Czech Saaz hops and Belgian yeast give this ale its distinctive flavor and aroma. Candy sugar made in-house at the brewery adds strength without increasing heaviness. The result is a deceptively strong, pale golden ale.
ABV: 8.1%, IBU: 36, OG(plato): 18
ABV: 8.1%, IBU: 36, OG(plato): 18
3.6
295 reviews
Blanco, United States
Community reviews
2/14/18. Happy Valentine's Day! 12oz bottle from Pig Liquors. Golden orange pour with a small off-white head. Fruity aroma, some Belgian yeast, candi sugar, pale doughy maltiness. Sweet entry, brown sugar and fruitiness, touches of tropical and stone fruits, caramel, some dough, Belgian yeast spice. Not bad.
Absolutely delicious; smooth, sweet and pleasantly floral. Strong malt sweetness, pleasant medium palate, beautiful lacing. Love it!
One of the best tripels I've tried. Flavorful and strong.
Draft at Center Court. Hazy golden with a lacing white head. Spicy aroma with a hoppy finish. Nice American tripel.
Bottle. It poured a hazy orange gold color with a white head that has good retention. The aroma is Belgian yeast, spices, Carmel and fruit ester. The taste is sweet with a strong alcohol backbone.
Really good , this Texas beer is one of my favorites , I wish it were sold in my state
Bottle. Large creamy white head. Nice lacing. Light cloudy yellow color. Aroma of yeast, fruit, spice, light grain and caramel, citrus and pepper. Medium body. Moderated sweet flavor. Lingering pepper and sweet fruity finish.
Aroma was malty, it had a hazy hay color in appearance. The taste was interesting, it was unlike any other beer I’ve had, it was one I cannot yet put a finger on. The palate was oily and smooth, and left a lingering taste in my mouth. Overall, I wouldn’t say it’s the beer for me. Its a different experience from my usual Belgian whites and porters, and I may decide to try it again later, but for now I’ll keep this one on the shelf.
Drinkable but strong
Powerful beer
Flavor wise it's manageable but it will sneak up on you and fuck you up big time
Have had this many times, still go back to it. Maybe a bit to much alcohol taste, but it is bready as expected...
Bottle purchased at Specs. Apricot esters in the nose. Pours clear golden, little head retention but full and moderately carbonated mouthfeel. Fruity and slightly sour initially, finishes boozy. I don’t get much wheat or spice in here so it’s a little one note for a Belgian, but still fairly decent.
On tap at Bangers. Aroma has bananas, Belgian yeast, cloves, and some hops to balance.
Very smooth Belgium ale. Loved the smooth richness with the typical sweetness
Who woulda thought a brewer from Texas could turn out a decent Belgian trippel. Tipped a 12 oz. bottle into a Chimay glass. Yes that is not a bad thing. The pour is quite all right, a nice orangey yellow. Good stream of bubbles keep the head going. The smell, yes that nice scent of things to follow. First taste, slightly sweet, spicy, but not overwhelming. A significant fruit taste, mango maybe. Alcohol, I cannot detect it but 8.1% will bite. Not with the best Belgians I have had but certainly better than most domestic efforts. Good way to finish the evening or start it if you prefer.
Poured from bottle. Pours a light gold with 2 finger head, but it quickly dissipates to a skim. Aroma of banana and clove along with a touch of sweetness. Taste follows suit with typical tripel flavors - spicy yeast notes, clove, banana. There’s also a bit of herby bitterness late taste. Short finish, but pretty clean.
Very nice Belgian style triple. Pours a hazy orange. Very little head. Named after a very nice piece of road.
Quickly moving on to round 2. From a bottle while watching the kids play in the pool. Could not resist a belgian in the inlaws fridge.
(bottle) clear, bright orange colour with a medium tall, beige head; aroma starts with sauerkraut; then bit of noble hops, grass; creamy palate; balanced flavour with long, light bitter finish
On tap, Foodstuffs, Austin, TX. Super good from the first whiff. Excellent trippel, worthy of the designation. One of the best Texas beers I’ve tried, will be happy to try again. Lovely feel on the tongue, satisfying.
12 oz. bottle. Pours golden with a small white head. Honey, spice, floral elements, and yeast on the nose. Taste is banana, Belgian yeast, clove, spice, some fruitiness, and light alcohol. Good.
On tap at Real Ale brewery; Aroma: hoppy, slightly funky; Appearance: straw with white head; Taste: yeasty/wheaty, fruity; Palate: medium body with long, sweet finish; Overall: good tripel that isn’t overly yeasty. Would get again.
Honey yellow/orange with a white head. Aroma is apples and spice. Taste is similar, but with peppery Belgian esters into the finish. $2/12oz
Appearance: hazy translucent pale gold with a short, short-lived white head, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: orange peel, coriander, candi sugar, bubble gum, yeasty. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-light body , moderate carbonation, off-dry mildly spicy finish. (4/5)
Please Belg-ish tripel. Sweet, but not overly so, with some complexity and a nice yeasty base. I wouldn’t say no to another of these. (15/20)
Looks like a trippel, but doesn’t taste like a trippel. Piney hops added obscured some of the more traditional banana and spice flavors I’d expect from a trippel. I’d call it an American Pale Trippel, maybe?
12 oz bottle from Kroger. Dark gold in color. Moderate carbonation. Slightly bitter flavor. Overall just OK.
Not usually a fan of Belgians but I liked this one. Nice pour, creamy head, taste of orange and spices and a nice finish.
Frisco, TX - Three Stacks BBQ - on tap. Hazy, light orange pour, light white clingy head. Coriander, spruce, and bubble gum in the aroma. Yeast, cake mix, subtle citrus, juicy fruit gum in the flavor. Thick mouthfeel.
Pours a golden lemony yellow. Citrus aromas: lemon, tangerine, hibiscus. Very sweet, slightly oily. Sweet Belgian yeast, lemon, honey, candied sugar. A nice trippel.
Rated based on notes taken 14 July 2012 -- Probably my favorite of the Real Ale brews that I drank on this expedition. Well crafted Belgian.
Bottle at home. Pours golden, clear, quick dissipating head. Aroma is yeast, banana, spices, light wit flavors. Some faint fruitiness. Taste is sweet, slight fruit, Belgian , wit like notes. Light body, high carbonation. Solid.